Photo Caption: The Fort Jackson library summer reading program will include a variety of activities.

June 5, 2014
By From the Thomas Lee Hall Library
Source: www.army.mil

FORT JACKSON, S.C. (June 5, 2014) -- Registration is now open for a summer reading program aimed at military families. Post library readers of all ages can dig into a menagerie of book choices around the theme "Paws to Read."

The program will run eight weeks, with open enrollment under way and continuing through the summer. A variety of activities, from Storytime to an origami workshop, will take place at the post's Thomas Lee Hall Library.

"Last summer, the Fort Jackson community spent 127,192 minutes reading. Our goal for this year is to have the community read 240,000 minutes during the summer," said Kristen Gripp, Thomas Lee Hall Library. "We hope people will really sink their teeth into this year's program and read more books than ever before. Not to mention we have some great prizes this year."

Research shows that students typically score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do on the same tests at the beginning of the summer.

Summer reading programs can help to offset this effect. Studies also indicate students who read recreationally outperform those who don't. Students read more when they can choose materials based on their own interests.

Without summer reading intervention, the National Summer Learning Association reports it is common for teachers to spend at least a month reteaching material that students have forgotten over the summer.

"We make sure reading is fun for children and families, but we also know it's a seriously important program for supporting brain development, student achievement and learning over a lifetime," Gripp said.

"Paws to Read" is sponsored by the Department of Defense with program content developed by iREAD. Resource guides and animal-themed materials and activities to support the initiative were developed by librarians to motivate children to read. This marks the fifth year in which nearly 200 installation libraries will participate in the summer reading program. The program is open to all military ID card holders and their dependents.

For more information, call 751-5589 or email kristen.m.gripp.naf@mail.mil.